Thailand Live Thursday 15 Mar 2012

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Thailand Live Thursday 15 March 2012

News, Bits and Tweets

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Keep up to date with live updates from the news, hour by hour.

For breaking news, national, regional and international news updates on a daily basis only, this thread is closed to commentary so that those who wish to follow the news can find it here...

Commentary is still open for Thailand news in the relevant thread posted in News Clippings.

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Related topic: Thailand Live Wednesday 14 Mar 2012

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2,000 native English teachers to boost Thai students’ language skills

Full story:

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High level of lead in blood sparks fears: Thai hospital director

TAK: -- About 90 per cent of Karen villagers in Tambon Mae Chan of Tak's Umphang district have high levels of lead in their blood, Umphang Hospital director Dr Worawit Tantithanasap reported yesterday.

Full story:

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HOTEL BLAZE

Grand Park Avenue Hotel in Bangkok had no fire exits, safety features: panel

The fire-damaged Grand Park Avenue Hotel in Bangkok's Sukhumvit Soi 22 was found to have neither fire exits nor a smoke blocking system.

BANGKOK: -- Side windows in the hotel rooms of the dead Russian tourists were locked and could not let smoke out, according to the initial findings of a committee.Two guests died in the blaze and 20 other people were hurt.

Full story:

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BURNING ISSUE

New Thai govt means new Govt House

BANGKOK: -- The many renovations of the Government House landscape shows one thing: politicians are superstitious people and are willing to do anything to attract Lady Luck.

Full story:

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OIL EXPLORATION

MP demands probe into drilling

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A Democrat MP yesterday lodged a complaint with environment-protection police, demanding immediate investigation into the ongoing oil exploration project in Bangkok's Thawee Watthana district.

Akanat Promphan, who is based in the district, said it was possible that the drilling company had violated two laws - one concerning storage of toxic wastes and the other on factory operations.

Violators of both laws are subject to a prison term of up to 10 years and/or a fine of up to Bt1 million.

The MP was speaking after submitting the complaint to the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division, after a Senate commission asked the Energy Ministry to review its decision to allow the drilling to be continued.

The drilling company has claimed its operation is not violating any laws on fuel storage or the environment. However, local residents have also lodged a complaint with the Central Administrative Court asking that the drill be halted immediately.

-- The Nation 2012-03-15

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INFLATION

Curb your inflation expectation: Bank of Thailand

BANGKOK: -- The Bank of Thailand has sent a strong message that infla?tion is under control despite oil price spikes, amid high inflation expectation which is feared to give birth to a vicious cycle of endless price increases.

Full story:

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Abhisit: KPI reconciliation study still incomplete

BANGKOK: -- Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday questioned the validity of a report on reconciliation that is allegedly based on the findings of a study by the Parliament's King Prajadhipok Institute.

Full story:

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Time's up for sucker fish

The Nation

PHETCHABUN: -- The sucker fish, which is taking over waterways in Phetchabun's Khao Kho district and killing off freshwater jellyfish in the province, will soon be eliminated, officials said.

The sucker fish, also known as the armoured catfish, has taken over the Kheg River and is eating up other fish species in the river, including Phetcha-bun's famous freshwater jellyfish. The plan to encourage villagers to trade sucker fish they catch for other fish or fertiliser is a good idea, district chief Foosak Dejkla said, though villagers might not take part because catching sucker fish would destroy their nets.

Sucker fish, also known as municipal fish, is kept in aquariums to keep them clean. However, people are prohibited from releasing these fish into public waterways because they eat up other fish and change the ecological balance.

A leader of villagers' network, Sawasdee Suphrome, said sucker fish can be consumed but is avoided by most because its meat can make the eater "feel drunk".

-- The Nation 2012-03-15

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Political games retired generals play: Thai talk

BANGKOK: -- It was the mother of all ironies when the old coup-maker of 2006, General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, was made the head of a House committee for national reconciliation - which may include a move to undo all the things the coup had claimed to achieve. And he doesn't seem too bothered with that.

Full story:

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Stop popping pills, Thai Public Health warns

BANGKOK: -- Thais consume 128 million medicine tablets each day on average, according to the Department of Medical Services (DMS).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....c-health-warns/

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Panel coy on naming supplier of tablets

Chularat Saengpassa,

Supinda na Mahachai,

Asina Pornwasin

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Govt insists decision has been made, awaiting response from China; 'price per unit lower than Bt2,400'

The government is facing a possible deadline crisis over its One Tablet Per Child (OTPC) project after its committee yesterday failed to disclose the name of the chosen supplier.

The government insisted that the bid winner has been selected, as it tried to allay fears about a delay. Observers, however, see a tight time-frame as Pathom 1 students will begin their new semester on May 15, the time by which they should have the tablets in hand, downloaded with proper programmes for learning.

The big question is whether the government will be able to provide well-equipped devices to the children in time.

Information and Communications Technology Minister Gp Capt Anudith Nakornthap emerged from the meeting of the OTPC policy committee yesterday, saying the committee had already picked the supplier but its name would not be released to the public for the time being.

"We will disclose the name after we sign the purchase contract with the Chinese government," he said, "We have to inform the Chinese of our chosen supplier and wait for their response."

He said the procurement panel for the OTPC project has chosen just one supplier and the OTPC policy committee has approved it.

"The price per unit is cheaper than Bt2,400 and the conditions are even better than what earlier appeared in news reports," Anudith said.

He said three suppliers had revised their quotations on March 9.

Anudith said he did not know what would happen if the Chinese government recommended another supplier.

The Thai government has been preparing to procure 900,000 tablets from a Chinese supplier via a government-to-government contract.

China has reportedly recommended four suppliers. They are Shenzhen Scope Scientific Development, TCL Corporation, Haier Information Technology (Shenzhen) and Huawei Technology. They have offered US$81 (Bt2,400), $89, $103 and $135 per tablet computer respectively.

Last week, Anudit suggested that he would ask the Cabinet to approve the purchase of tablets from Shenzhen Scope Scientific Development that offered to sell for just $81 per unit, excluding transportation costs. However, the Cabinet meeting on March 6 took place without any approval for the purchase.

On March 13, the Cabinet convened another meeting but again there was no conclusion about the supplier for the OTPC project.

Therefore, all eyes were on the OTPC policy committee meeting yesterday because many relevant parties wanted to have clear-cut information and determine how to prepare for the upcoming semester.

Anudith, however, did not seem so sure about the next steps. He even said that he was worried about the possibility of the procurement of tablets becoming another big scandal like what happened in the procurement of fire vehicles from an Austrian supplier many years ago.

According to Anudith, the OTPC policy committee has already instructed the Foreign Ministry to inform the Chinese government of the supplier chosen and the legal procedures required by Thailand.

The ICT minister said he expected the Chinese government to reply within one week.

Anudit said the procurement plan would be placed before the Cabinet only after China responds.

Education Minister Suchart Tadathamrongvej presided over the OTPC policy committee yesterday.

-- The Nation 2012-03-15

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Phuket, Phang-Na, Krabi land encroachment to be probed

BANGKOK: -- More than 2,800 rai of forest area 'illegally acquired' in three Southern provinces of Phuket, Phang-Na, Krabi

Full story:

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No easy way to start a peace process in the deep South: Thai opinion

BANGKOK: -- With the backing of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and the premier's older brother Thaksin, the secretary-general of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC), Thawee Sodsong, thinks he is on a roll.

Full story:

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PROTEST

Villagers in Trang oppose EGAT project

TRIFA SAEKHOW

THE NATION

Trang

TRANG: -- Some 200 villagers yesterday rallied outside the Kan Tang district office against a proposed 800-megawatt, coal-fired power plant in Tambon Wang Won.

The group from three tambon in the district - Ban Laem, Bang Sak and Wang Won - submitted a letter to district chief Wisit Tangpong demanding that the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) scrap the project.

They vowed to come back in seven days to check if they had succeeded in stopping the plan.

The group, led by Mol Nasom, president of the Rak Ban Kerd Community Network; Sakkamol Saengdara, coordinator of the Andaman Foundation; and Maitree Wisetsart, president the Trang Fishery Club also earlier paraded around the Kan Tang Market.

Maitree said the Pa Lian river basin was fertile with 11 mangrove forests and many fishing grounds. Communities have joined forces to protect and manage the resources, while the mouth of Pa Lian River is protected as a key wetland zone.

Trang was being developed as a province with sustainable agriculture.

Then Egat came along and reportedly created disunity among officials as well as residents in the area, so the group wants the Kan Tang district chief and other officials to follow their three demands.

First, they want all Egat activities that provoke disunity in the community to cease and a public hearing to be held to let Trang residents participate in the project's securitisation. If the result is that most residents oppose the plant, all procedures for its construction must be halted.

Second, they want the threats and harassment of residents to end and third, they want the district chief, officials and local politicians to be neutral in this matter.

-- The Nation 2012-03-15

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Thai Boxer Yodsanan 3K Battery Set to Star at Major Mixed Martial Art’s Show in Singapore

ONE FC 1 will be broadcast in Thailand for the first time at 10pm on Thursday March 15th on Star Sports and you can watch Yodsanan’s knock out win over Daniel Mashamaite.

Full story:

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Rites for princess in 46 temples

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- On April 9, Bangkok residents can bid their last farewell to HRH Princess Bejaratana at any of the ceremonies held simultaneously at 46 temples across the capital.

The ceremonies will start at about 3pm - the time when the cremation ceremony for the late princess begins in Sanam Luang. The cremation ceremony will be broadcast live on television.

Princess Bejaratana, the only child of King Rama VI, passed away at the age of 85 last July.

"We will prepare sandalwood flowers for people to use during the ceremonies," deputy Bangkok city clerk Piangjai Wisarurat said yesterday, adding that these flowers can also be laid in the late princess's memory at Sanam Luang.

She said that other than temples located in the Phra Nakon, Dusit, Pom Prab and Samphanthawong districts, which are close to Sanam Luang, at least one temple in 46 Bangkok districts will be hosting a ceremony in honour of the late princess. Piangjai added that these temples would also be holding exhibitions on the late princess's achievements.

-- The Nation 2012-03-15

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Thaksin to celebrate Songkran in Laos

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has planned to visit Laos during the Songkran festival on April 13-to-15, Pheu Thai MP Somkid Balthaisong said on Thursday.

"Thaksin has conveyed his message that anyone who misses and wants to see him can meet him in Laos," Somkid said upon his return from a Thaksin meeting in Hong Kong.

He said he talked to Thaksin for about 10 minutes seeking the blessing for his daughter Manthana Balthaisong who will run for a local office in the Nong Khai constituency.

Manthana is an aspiring candidate for the position of chairwoman for Nong Khai Provincial Administrative Organisation.

-- The Nation 2012-03-15

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Deputy PM, Army Chief Inspect Counterinsurgency Progress in Deep South

BANGKOK: -- The deputy prime minister in charge of security affairs says the government has resolved to extend the emergency rule in the three southern border provinces by another three months.

He also vows to take a hard line on drugs and other threats to national security.

Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army, General Prayuth Chan-ocha, and Deputy Prime Minister in charge of security affairs, General Yutthasak Sasiprapa, visited the Internal Security Operations Command or ISOC operation center at the Sirindhorn military camp in Pattani.

They met with relevant security agencies from the five southern border provinces to inspect the progress of counter-insurgency operations. The two top brasses went on to meet villagers in Kor Lum Subdistrict of Yarang District before returning to Bangkok.

General Yutthasak said the Army chief mentioned various hidden threats linked to the southern unrest and stressed that all agencies remain vigilant in keeping tabs on the situation. Recently, the government extended the state of emergency in the three southern border provinces for another three months.

The deputy prime minister added that the government will take a hard line on drugs and adopt every possible measure to prevent any threats. He said powerful people and local politicians who are found to be involved will be prosecuted, and the police already have some such information.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-15

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Bus Fare Increase by Next Month, Express Boat Services Halted in Some Areas

BANGKOK: -- The public transportation association president has announced an increase in public bus fares by 0.06 baht per kilometer starting April 1. Meanwhile, the Chao Phraya express boat plans to cancel its services from Sathorn to Rajburana from this Saturday.

Public Transportation Association President Sujinda Cherdchai announced that the association plans to increase public bus fares by 0.06 baht per kilometer on April 1, even though the transportation committee opposes the new price.

The president admits it's better to pay a fine than to carry the high energy cost. She went on to say the bus business operators are not able to carry the high operation costs and this is causing financial loss.

Sujinda insisted the bus fare will be increased without the permission of the transportation committee. Furthermore, the bus business operators are willing to pay fines, as it is more profitable.

Meanwhile, the Chao Phraya Express Boat Services President, Naval Parinya Rukwatin, disclosed that the company will discontinue services from Sathorn to Ratburana this Saturday, due to the diesel price hike. Currently, the diesel price is more than 32 baht per liter.

Moreover, the number of passengers has reportedly decreased from 2,000 people per day to nearly 600 people per day because they are using public bus services instead.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-15

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RT @terryfrd: Plodprasop: "We don't need to worry about another big flood for at least 70-80 years."

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,166.71, up 2.35 points /MCOT

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Kidnapped American Girl Found In Thailand 5 Years Later

Full story:

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Malaysia seeks to extradite Bangkok blast suspect

Kuala Lumpur, March 15, 2012 (AFP) - Malaysian authorities on Thursday applied for a court order to extradite to Thailand an Iranian man suspected of involvement in an alleged bomb plot against Israeli diplomats in Bangkok.

Full story:

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Customs Crackdown on Smugglers As Oil Becomes Expensive

BANGKOK: -- The Customs chief admits that oil smuggling has become more widespread in light of inflated domestic prices. The department is keeping an eye on some small gas stations alleged of selling smuggled fuel.

Customs Department Director-General Somchai Pulsawat said the small-scale smuggling of cheaper oil from neighboring countries is becoming more rampant especially along the border due to a continuous rise in local oil prices.

He added the Customs Department and other relevant agencies have recently cracked down on major smuggling groups in Pattani and Yala provinces, and further investigation is being conducted for possible links to a larger smuggling network.

Somchai noted the department will also inspect some small gas stations alleged of selling smuggled fuel.

In addition to illegal oil, the Customs Department is coordinating with the Army Region 4, and the Department of Special Investigation to crackdown on the increasingly rampant smuggling of narcotics and precursor substances for illegal drugs that are falsely declared to be used for a medical purpose.

As for other smuggled goods, particularly agricultural products, Somchai said his department has asked the Commerce Ministry to inform it when the ministry launches a pledging program or impose price control on any products as fraudulent activities would become more widespread.

Yesterday, the Customs chief awarded Authorized Economic Operator certificates to nine companies.

The AEO certificate is internationally recognized and issued to any business that fulfills customs compliance, as well as security and safety standards.

The program also aims to facilitate international trade and streamline the customs process in the lead-up to the ASEAN Economic Community launch.

Companies with AEO certificates will be entitled to certain clearance privileges.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-15

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King orders Bureau of Royal Rainmaking to urgently solve northern region haze problem; Mae Hong Son still critical /MCOT

RT @RichardBarrow: Passenger left 10 million Baht worth of gold in a pink Bangkok taxi ทศ-3628 at Simum Muang Market. Owner wants it back.

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PM's Office Acting Spokesman Clarifies Delay in Free Tablet PC Scheme

BANGKOK: -- An acting spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office says the free tablet PCs for students is delayed because the government is considering another bidder and whether the devices should come with wireless capability.

The Prime Minister's Office acting spokesman Anusorn Eiamsa-ard has clarified about the delay in the One Tablet PC per Child program, which is still pending the Cabinet's consideration.

He said the Education and the Information and Communication Technology ministries are considering another bidder who offers tablet PCs at the price of 2,400 baht each, rather than the 2,800 baht proposed by Shenzhen Scope Scientific Development.

However, Anusorn reaffirmed that the procurement deal will be made between the Thai and Chinese governments.

He added that the ministries are looking into whether to include WiFi on the devices, how much the add-on would cost, and who would be responsible for the additional expense.

Anusorn said the delay could be due to the fact that the government is planning to extend the program to students above the first grade, which will require an additional 800,000 tablet PCs.

He added that the 20-member policy committee will consider the possibility and submit its suggestions for the Cabinet's consideration.

The acting spokesman expressed confidence that the free tablet PCs will be handed out to first-graders nationwide at the start of the new semester in May.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-15

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Thailand Named “Most Popular Destination” at ITB Berlin 2012

BERLIN: -- Thailand has again been named the “Most Popular Destination”, while the Tourism Authority of Thailand has been honored as the “Best Asian Tourism Board” at the International Tourism Exchange Berlin 2012.

The Travel Daily News reported that at the International Tourism Exchange or ITB Berlin 2012 in Germany, the most popular world-leading travel trade show, members of Go Asia chose Thailand as Asia’s most popular destination for the ninth year in a row.

Meanwhile, the Tourism Authority of Thailand or TAT has been chosen as the best Asian tourism board for the fourth year in a row.

Furthermore, at this year’s Go Asia awards, Thai Airways International received the “Best Asian Airline” award.

In the private sector, the “Best Hotel in Asia” awards went to the Peninsula Bangkok, Siam@Siam Design Hotel & Spa, the Mandarin Oriental, and Dara Dhevi in Chiang Mai Province.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-15

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Govt to maintain value-added tax (VAT) at 7 pct, Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong said Thur /The Nation